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Mayor of Nevers accordingly detains the two travellers, and Aloyse, by hinting to him that the jewels which Philip has distributed bear the mark of the king's jeweller, casts on them so strong a suspicion, that their departure is rendered impossible until the Spanish troops arrive, who acknowledge the young king, when, of course, every body is made happy, one with money, another with honors, &c. &c. Such is the plot. Of the piece itself, we may observe that the dialogue is, in some places, smartly written, and that the plot is, on the whole, tolerably well developed. The first act was received with great applause, and the situations of the principal characters raised considerable expectations. Unfortunately, however, in the second act, these expectations were not realised, and the confusion consequent upon introducing, or rather crowding, so many prominent personages into one long tedious act, caused many hisses and other marks of disapprobation that might, by better management, have been avoided. The piece was strongly cast, and well acted, the first half, especially. In the second act, Miss TAYLOR and Mrs. NISBETT were the principal actors,-FARREN, Mrs. GLOVER, and others, being nearly lost sight of,-except as auxiliaries. With curtailment, the Young King may yet be rendered attractive. The scenery, we should observe, is new and well painted. During the week, The Bridal, the Provoked Husband, the Jealous Wife, &c., have been played to good houses. We regret to hear that Mr. MACREADY takes his leave to-night. His absence will be felt by the management, as well as the public.

ENGLISH OPERA.-We went to press too early, last week, to enable us to notice Mr. PEAKE'S new farce of a Quarter before Nine, which was produced on Thursday, the 20th ult. The plot is briefly this:

Frolick finds out his business, and passes himself off on the captain, who has the peculiarity. of short-sightedness, as the poacher in person, and thus manages to wile away a portion of his precious time. He afterwards introduces himself as a country attorney, and contrives to perplex the captain with a parcel of imaginary details respecting a friend's widow. After some further tricks of this kind, in shifting his cha racter and making himself an old woman, in putting on the cloak, and practising other barefaced devices on the blindness and silliness of the captain, he manages to make the captain fail at the place of meeting, where Frolick himself is present in time, attended by the waiter of the inn, in disguise, as his friend. Killrush is shocked at the absence of the captain, and offers Frolick the satisfaction of fighting in the cap|tain's stead. Frolick is quite content with things as they are, and Killrush apologises : meantime the captain makes his appearance; but instead of fighting, the matter is literally huddled up, and Frolick requests the audience. to meet him at a quarter before nine,' the next | evening.

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The acting in this little affair secured it a very good reception; but Mr. COMPTON, for whom it was written, requires much practice to make him a favorite in London. He will pass muster very well with third-rate actors, but he is not adapted to take prominent characters. principal performances of the week have been Catherine Grey, The Bottle Imp, and a Quarter to Nine. The house, we are sorry to say, has been but indifferently attended.

The

NEW STRAND.-We have nothing more to announce this week, than the triumphant and continued success of Sam Weller. The Pickwickians are now in all their glory; and nightly attract some thousands of her Majesty's liege. subjects to witness their peregrinations and

Frolick (Mr. COMPTON), a coarse young fel-flights of humor. We have seen this piece six

low, fond of practical jokes, is living at a country inn, where Captain Nearshot (Mr. BRINDAL), an affected, half-blind coxcomb, happens to be quartered. Frolick laughs in the coffee-room, or, as the author has it, goes off like gingerbeer, at seeing the captain comb his moustachios after dinner. The captain fires, and demands and receives Frolick's card. Shortly after, Cornelius Killrush, an Irishman, enacted by Mr. BAKER, waits on Frolick, and, after some parleying, delivers a formal challenge to meet the captain with pistols at a quarter before nine. The appointed time has only a couple of hours to run, and this interval Frolick determines to turn to account, by making the captain, in some way, break his appointment. This he carries into effect, by happening to fall in with some persons who have just arrived on business with the captain. One of them is Roger Rook (Mr. MAC IAN), a poacher, who is sent from Yorkshire, with a very bad character to the captain, by one of his sporting friends, with the intention of having him enlisted in her Majesty's service, far away from certain preserves.

times, and mean to see it at least as many more! the theatres alone-we are enabled, each time, Accompanied by a fair friend-we never go to to point out new beauties, and to call attention tention. Bachelors' Buttons has been revived to those parts which are most deserving of atthis week, and played as an after-piece to Sam Weller. The part of Tom Wilton has been resumed by Mrs. STIRLING, who has at last "recovered from her late severe and melancholy indisposition." THEY do say, there are weighty reasons for this sudden recovery, but we say -nothing !

SURREY.-The worthy DAVIDGE is reaping a golden harvest from the united companies of the Surrey and Adelphi, and overflowing houses prove that he caters well for the taste of the public. The Armourer of Paris, or the Cross of Blood, still continues to attract; and to this has been added a revival of Esmeralda, in which Mr. and Mrs. YATES, O. SMITH, W. SMITH, and others, shine with their accustomed brilliance. ASTLEY'S.-Emulation now seems to be the order of the day, or rather evening, on the Sur

rey side of the water, and each manager seems determined not to be surpassed in novelty or excellence of entertainment by his competitors. Crichton; or the Royal Bull Fight, still leads the van here; but there have been added a vast number of novelties. For instance, we have had Mr. HICKEN in the military scene of the Death of Shaw; the diminutive steed Fire-fly, and the Chace of Diana; The Black Legend of Rotherhithe; Hippodrome Races by the infant jockies and fairy coursers; DUCRow's Mythological representation of the Evening Star, &c. &c. -the whole concluding with the Shipwrecked Mariner. Our opinion of these varieties may be gathered from that of our youngest daughter, who, looking archly in our face the other evening, said, “Pa, is not all this delightful?”

VICTORIA. The return of WRENCH, added to the continued attractions of Mrs. HONEY, who smiles as sweetly as ever upon the inhabitants of Lambeth, has drawn excellent houses during the week. The performances have been The Spirit of the Rhine, The Man about Town, The Mazourka, and the Young Hussar. A new piece, entitled the Woman and the Devil, written expressly for Mrs. HONEY was played on Thursday. This we shall notice in our next.

The

the said peasant and her waiting woman to take
the most inconceivable and unwarrantable liber-
ties with her, and that repeatedly? And who
ever heard of a Marquis making love to his
lady's waiting woman, while his lady was in the
room watching his movements in a mirror?
Notwithstanding all these faults, however, we
are bound to acknowledge that the piece was
quite successful; and, acted as it is, it will have
a run. Miss MERCER makes a very nice little
waiting-woman, and Miss CLIFFORD does ample
justice to her character of Countess.
The jea-
lous scene' between her and Green
capital; the latter was in all his glory.

was

We now come to speak of Frederick of Prussia, -a burletta by the same author. This is as far superior to the Rustic Adonis as gold is to copper; nor could we have supposed the two pieces to have emanated from one and the same pen. The one has no body whatever about it, while the other is all body, being natural, and, generally speaking, consistent throughout. for the most fastidious critic to carpat. FredeThe acting, too, is first-rate,—there is nothing rick of Prussia, as enacted by TILBURY, is a particularly faithful delineation of the character, and exhibited a finish which we never remember to have seen imparted to the monarch by QUEEN'S.-We mentioned in our last, the any other living actor. His whole soul seemed reason for our not having noticed the perform-wrapt up in the part, nor did he so much as once ances of this little theatre on its opening and subsequent nights, and promised to notice them this week, which promise we redeem. Nothing gives us more sincere pleasure than to speak well of managers, and actors, when they deserve it, and when, from a sense of duty, we use the lash to expose their errors and follies, it is more painful to us than we can well express, seeing that, by many, our remarks are considered invidious and unjustly severe. QUEEN'S theatre has been particularly unfortunate in this respect; for we have never been able to speak of it, and its management, except in the harshest terms. It formerly was, as we described it, “an Augean stable, requiring a second Hercules to cleanse it from its impurities." It has now come into the possession, and under the management, of Mr. SOANE, who, we sincerely hope, will redeem its lost character, and place it on a level with the respectable theatres. We paid our first visit on Monday last; on which occasion, the performances were the Rustic Adonis (never acted), Frederick of Prussia, The Summer Fete, and Loose Cash. The two first pieces are by the same author; and we think the management displayed much good sense in playing the Rustic Adonis first of the two. We have no fault whatever to find with the acting, which was excellent-more particularly that of Misses CLIFFORD and MERCER, Mr. T. GREEN, and Mr. MARSHALL-but we do find great fault with the plot and its construction, it consisting of improbabilities, and impossibilities, throughout. Who, for instance, ever heard of a Marchioness flirting with a peasant in her own drawing room, and allowing

lose sight of his individuality, from first to last.
His bye-play, too, was admirable,-in our opin-
ion, far superior to that of FARREN. He richly
deserved all the applause he received. GREEN,
as his mimic, was also very clever, and kept the
house in a roar of laughter. Messrs. Howe,
W. DAVIDGE, and MARSHALL, are equally en-
titled to honorable mention, the character of
the two former, in particular, were "superlative-
ly" well drawn, and "excruciatingly
well per-
formed" most decidedly so "-they played
with much spirit, and fairly divided the admi-
ration of the audience. The ladies, Misses LEE
and CLIFFORD, though mentioned last, are not
least deserving our good word. The former, in
particular, is a charming actress, and by her
modest demeanor excites general admiration,-
she is, though young, a very old favorite of ours.
The Divertissement of the Summer Fete is one
of the prettiest ballets of its class; and affords
an opportunity for some excellent dancing by
Madame VEDY, Miss LANE, and Miss GRIFFITHS;
also by Miss GREEN, who danced the Cachouca,
a la DUVERNAY, very gracefully. There was
also a comic pas de trois, by those elastic non-
descripts, Messrs. BROWN, GIBSON, and KING,
which, of course, was encored. The amusements
terminated with an admirable comic farce from
the pen of OXENFORD, entitled Loose Cash, in
which GREEN and little MARSHALL figured away
to their hearts' content, and to the complete
satisfaction of the audience.-We must, on no
account, omit to mention the BAND, conducted
by Mr. HILL. It is a most efficient one, and
executed three overtures in so excellent a man-
ner, that we could hardly persuade ourselves we

were not sitting in one of the patent theatres.
In justice to Mr. HILL, we feel it our duty to
direct attention to the orchestra.
The scenery,
too, and dresses, are pretty, correct, and appro-
priate. There are several novelties in prepara-
tion, which will be brought forward in a few
days.*

SADLER'S WELLS.-Prosperity still attends this favorite theatre; but we advise the management to be persuaded by us, and not to produce the Pickwickians, which we hear is in rehearsal. The interest for another Pickwick is gone by. That which is now flourishing has been well "introduced," and has obtained a firm footing, but a further attempt of the same kind would never fill the treasury. Verbum sat.

susceptible' heart by storm. But we escaped, and yet live to tell the tale.

Every success attend the worthy proprietor, say we; and long may we live to patronise and recommend his house, his wines, and his et ceteras!

CHIT-CHAT.

COVENT GARDEN.-The following on dit is in circulation; we do not vouch for its authenticity:

"The terms upon which MACREADY takes Covent Garden Theatre are, to pay no stipulated sum for rent, but out of the profits to pay his performers first, next himself; and then the

* Since this was written, the theatre has been sud- balance, should there be any, is to be paid over

denly closed! the matter.

We shall not, now, offer any comment on

BEULAH SPA.

As we

to the Committee! No one can call this an improvident bargain on the part of Mr. MACREADY.

Madame VESTRIS and Charles MATTHEWS have been playing to crowded houses at Liverpool.

Mrs. WAYLETT, the chere amie of Mr. Alexander LEE, has, it is said, consented, to make up the quarrel that has lately subsisted between them; and they are now happy as " turtle doves."

The Royal BEULah Spa and GardENS, Norwood, which are now in all their glory, have strong claims on the lovers of rustic scenery, pleasure, and the beauties of Nature. have before mentioned (see IDLER, No. 4. p. 28), the Gardens have undergone considerable improvement since last season, and every thing has been added that could render them attracting" from nature." The last portrait he took MACLISE, the artist, has recently been studyive. The introduction of ARCHERY was a very wise step. This delightful recreation attracts multitudes of visitors and candidates for the long bow. Here, too, Pic-nic parties can rusticate, and enjoy themselves to their heart's content, certain portions of the grounds being allotted to their exclusive accommodation, together with attendance, and every other convenience.

We know of no similar spot near London, where we would prefer taking a day's pleasure, -especially when young folks are to be of the party.

ELYSIUM.

Elysium!-such is the euphonous and seductive name given to a suite of elegant SupperRooms, just opened at the establishment of Mr. HUMPHREY, in Brydges Street, nearly facing Drury Lane theatre. We popped in there, on Monday evening, on our return from the Queen's, and have every reason to speak well of "mine host," and the bountiful provision he had made for his visitors. We would particularly direct attention to the large and beautifully decorated room, level with the shop, and facing the entrance. The paintings on the walls represent a variety of Continental scenes, which are well executed; and, in one part of the room, stands, boldly prominent, a likeness of the immortal TAGLIONI.

By the way, had we not been "old stagers," and well able to "stand fire," we should positively have fallen a sacrifice, on this occasion, to some of the assembled fair creatures, whose bright eyes had well nigh taken our 'too

was that of Lady SYKES, which is said, by some, to be his chef d'œuvre. There are various opinions, however, afloat about the matter, and before he is paid for his trouble, the charge is likely to be argued in a court of law.

PHELPS, the new actor announced to make his debut at the Haymarket, has obtained deservedly great celebrity in the Provinces as a tragedian, and also in Ireland. He was in the company of Watkins Burroughs for a considerable time; but, during the last season, at Exeter, his talents were highly applauded. He is likely to become a favorite.

RICHMOND THEATRE.-The fair lessee of this now elegant, and fashionable little theatre, is carrying all before her. Last night there was a 'bespeak' by several families of rank in the neighborhood, on which occasion BARTLEY, COOPER, and MEADOWS lent their valuable assistance. The last named gentleman has been performing for a limited number of nights. Mr. BUTLER is engaged for four nights, and will make his first appearance on Monday.-FORESTER deserves especial mention; he is the most gentlemanly actor on the stage, and a general favorite. Miss WARING, too, is rising rapidly in public favor. She acts, sings, and plays, delightfully.

GRAVESEND THEATRE.-This speculation is answering well.-The people of Gravesend seem highly delighted with our London performers; and so they ought to be.

NEW STRAND. The indefatigable HAMMOND has another novelty just ready. It is "an origi

nal, grand, comic, burlesque Spectacle, by Thomas DIBDIN, Esq., entitled 'Alexander the Great, in Little.' "

PARACHUTES.-The lamentable fate of poor Mr. COCKING, seems to have had a most remarkable effect; no fewer than three individuals in England have offered to make a descent, the moment an opportunity is afforded them! and in Paris, the daughter of M. Garnerin, the celebrated aeronaut, has positively announced the day on which she will "cut the rope and descend in a parachute !"

OUR NOTE-BOOK.

ORIGINAL AND SELECT.

INTRODUCTION OF GLASS. This serviceable and beautiful material, though applied about the twelfth century to the decoration of churches, was not very commonly used in dwelling-houses till the century before the last. The windows of the middle ages were of lattice, either formed

of wicker, or fine rifts of oak, in chequer-wise.

In the description of England, prefixed to Hollinshed's Chronicle, crystal, and even beryle, we are told, was sometimes used by our princes and nobility; of which last, a particular example

then existed in the windows of Sudley Castle. But in regard to glass, even after it had begun to be used in windows, it was still preserved with great care, as a precious rarity. The Survey of Alnewick Castle, Northumberland, 1567, recommends, that, for fear of injury during the absence of the owner, the glass of the windows should be taken down, and laid up in safety, as its decay was costly and chargeable to be repayred. And even Carew, in his Survey of Cornwall, when he gives a representation of a common Cornish house, acknowledges that glass windows then were but of late introduction. He wrote his Survey in the last year of Queen Elizabeth's reign. The Cornish houses then seemed to be on the same style and footing with the Scotch hovels of modern times, without chimneys or windows, the smoke passing through a hole in

the roof, or at the door.

SIR WALTER SCOTT AND THE BOOKSELLERS. -Without any greater degree of fourberie than they conceive the practice of their brethren has rendered the matter of prescriptive right, they contrive to clip the author's fair proportion of profits down to a mere trifle. It is the tale of the fox that went a hunting with the lion, upon condition of equal division of the spoil; and yet I do not quite blame the booksellers, when I consider the very singular nature of their mystery. A butcher generally understands something of black cattle, and woe betide the jockey who should presume to exercise the profession without a competent knowledge of horse-flesh! But who ever heard of a bookseller pretending to understand the commodity in which he dealt? They are the only tradesmen in the world who professedly, and by choice, deal with what is called, "a pig in a poke." When you consider

the abominable trash which, by their sheer ignorance, is published every year, you will readily excuse them for the indemnification which they must necessarily obtain at the expense of authors of some value. In fact, though the account between an individual bookseller and such a man as Southey may be iniquitous enough, yet I apprehend that, upon the whole,

the account between the trade and the authors of Britain at large, is pretty fairly balanced; and what these gentlemen gain at the expense of one class of writers, is lavished, in many cases, in bringing forward other works of little value. I do not know but this, upon the whole, is favorable to the cause of literature. A bookseller publishes twenty books, in hopes of gaining a prize. Thus the road is open to all, and if the successful candidate is a little fleeced, in order to form petty prizes to console the losing adventures, still the cause of literature is benefited, since none is excluded from the privilege of competition.-Lockhart's Life of Scott.

losophers, poets, artists, and literary and scienMen of Genius. Out of a list of 250 phitific men of every character, furnished by Dr. Madden, not one was found to have attained the Titian who both lived to 96. age of 100. The oldest are Michael Angelo and

FEMALE EDUCATION.-One of Daniel De Foe's projects was an academy for the education of women; on the evils resulting from the want of it, he expressed his opinion in the following terms :"A well-bred woman and well taught, furnished with the additional accomplishments of knowledge and behavior, is the emblem of sublimer enjoyments, her person a creature without comparison. Her society is is all softness and sweetness-peace, love, wit, is angelic, and her conversation heavenly; she and delight; she is every way suitable to the sublimest wish; and the man that has such a one to his portion has nothing to do but rejoice in her and be thankful. On the other hand, suppose her to be the same woman, and deprived of the benefit of education, and it follows thus:-If her temper be good, want of education makes her soft and easy; her wit, for want of teaching, renders her impertinent and talkative; her knowledge, for want of judgment and experience, makes her fanciful and whimsical. If her temper be bad, want of breeding makes her worse; and she grows haughty, insolent, and loud. If she be passionate, want of manners makes her a termagant and a scold. If she be proud, want of discretion (which is ill-breeding) makes her conceited, fantastic, and ridiculous."

Printed by J. Eames, 7, Tavistock St., Covent Garden.

Published for the Proprietor by GEORGE DENNEY, at the Office, 7, Tavistock St. Covent Garden: sold also by Hetherington, 126, Strand; Strange, 21, and Steill, 20, Paternoster Row; Purkiss, Compton Street; and James # Pattie, 4, Brydges Street, Covent Garden.

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A NEW AND PASHIONABLE WEEKLY JOURNAL OF LITERATURE, FINE ARTS, MUSIC, AMUSEMENT,

EXHIBITIONS, VARIETIES, SATIRE, AND THE STAGE.

VOL. I.-No. 14.]

"QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY."-Common Sense.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 1837.

A DINNER-PARTY.

"I know not how dinner parties are managed in high life; but, we are to presume, the lady and gentleman of the mansion have little to do with the victualling department. My lady's gentlewoman, half servant, half companion, probably carries a general order to the housekeeper, who transfers it in more detailed form to the cook, who forthwith puts a host of underlings in a very considerable state of preparatory bustle. The cards are issued by some minister of the household; and the leading grandees probably give themselves no more trouble until the distantly appointed day has arrived.

My present business, however, is with folk of lowlier, though what is termed "respectable," quality. My hero is Mr. Longpole, a wealthy Borough hop-merchant. He has a bustling wife, a family of boys and girls personifying the progressive grades from infancy to hobbard-de-hoy, a large circle of acquaintance, and some motive, possibly, for keeping it rather on the increase than on the decline.

The propriety of giving a dinner-party has just crossed his mind, to which his wife, with all becoming duty, immediately agrees. It remains to settle who shall be invited; and, of course, the idea of matching their intended guests, such with such, never enters the brain of either. They have received civilities from all sorts of people, and therefore all sorts of people are collectively complimented in turn. The merely musical and merely scientific, the merely poetical and merely political, the gentle poor and wealthy vulgar, are to be seated side by side, and front to front, like chance passengers in an omnibus.

The list of invitees being at length resolved on, Longpole departs to his counting house in Tooley-street, while Miss Longpole (who "came out " at the last Borough assembly) trips over to the stationer's to choose a pretty pack of invitation cards-those exquisite emblems of indolent monotony; and, in the true acutely pointed style of penmanship, beautifully fine and designedly illegible, she fills up each hiatus with name and date in Arnold's best Japan; incloses each dainty

66

[PRICE TWO-PENCE.

passport in a cream-colored, ready-made envelope, and entrusts them, sealed with mottled wax, and stamped with a butterfly, to the delivery of John. And now, from time to time, the answers arrive, bearing their regrets," or "much pleasures," as the case may be. Miss Longpole is much disappointed at young Wildoat's inability," but bears with exemplary patience the sorrows, of the pre-engaged Miss Popkins. The refusals, however, are not very numerous; and, at all events, they will be able to establish a rubber, a chess couple, a comic song and duet. If the young folks do not muster sufficiently strong for a quadrille, why so much the better for old Longpole's Brussells carpet.

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The time now fast approaches, and Longpole goes a roundabout way to his counting-house loaded with commissions. Behold him working a labyrinthal progress through the meat, fish, and poultry markets, and finally seating his wearied body in the pastry-cook's, as he gives orders for a due supply of jelly, blanc-mange, and preserved ginger. On his way home, he calls in at the fruiterer's, and risks an abdominal affection by his manifold probationary duties among baskets of dried and green fruits. While he is thus busied, only mark the bustle in "our house at hame."

"Where's Potpan? He shift a trencher! Away with the joint stools! Look to the plate! Antony and Potpan.'

"Ay, boy; ready.'

"You're looked for and called for, asked for and sought for, in the great chamber.'

"We cannot be here and there too." "

Such was the fuss in old Capulet's house, on the day when he feasted a Montague and lost a daughter: nor less alive are the inmates of Longpole's. The cook wants spices, and calls for dates and quinces. The jelly-bag has a hole in it. The tin-moulds are mouldy. Query, Whose business is it to furbish them? The housemaid gets out of temper, because the cat won't get out of the kitchen. As to John, he has locked himself in his pantry, cleans his plate and glass to the air of Di tanti palpiti-singing out with loudness and con

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